Thursday, October 6, 2011

Conecuh County newspaper headlines from October 1911

It’s that time of the month again, time to take a trip down memory lane and review all of the interesting things that took place in Conecuh County 100 years ago, way back in October 1911.

In the Oct. 5, 1911 edition of The Conecuh Record newspaper, editor J.D. Whitcomb reported that “County court was in session here Monday and a large crowd was here from all over the county. Enough cases were on the docket to keep his Honor, Judge Dean, busy nearly all day.”

Whitcomb also noted that “Dr. McConner, a prominent Mason of Mobile, was the guest of Judge Dean last Saturday.”

Readers that week also saw the following news item – “Farmers Take Notice: The Dupont powder works will give a demonstration of plowing with dynamite at the state farm 6th, 7th and 8th of November 1911, (signed) Henry T. Lile.”

Much of the news in The Record in 1911 came from community correspondents, and one such correspondent posed a question to the editor that week.

“A correspondent asks the value of a dollar made in 1852,” Whitcomb said. “We don’t know. But the value of one made in 1911 is almost less than a square meal just now.”

In news from the Owassa community, correspondent “Chip” reported that “School opened here Monday morning with Miss Nash of Burnt Corn as teacher.”

Whitcomb also reported that week that “the weather requires almost as much time to make up its mind as a woman who is picking out a piece of dress goods.

“Some pessimistic person has predicted a cold winter. Still, he might be interested in a woolen factory.”

In the Oct. 12, 1911 edition of the newspaper, Whitcomb reported that “H.W. Dunn and wife returned Sunday from Montgomery. They made the trip in a Ford car without an accident of any kind.”

It was also reported that week that “The Evergreen Motor Car Co. has just received another carload of Ford Automobiles, which can be seen at their garage.”

Readers that week also learned “Congressman S.H. Dent spent a day here last week, the guest of friends.”

Subscribers also read that “W.R. Seale brought us in a Dooley yam which weighed nearly three pounds. He says he has plenty more like it.”

In news from the Hampden Ridge community, correspondent “Crabapple” reported that “The winter school opened here Monday with Miss Lillian Drake as teacher.

“Professor W.G. Johnston of this place opened the school at Brooklyn on Mon., the 2nd inst.”

Whitcomb also reported that week that “G.A. Sarge fell from his buggy at Snow Hill and died. He was one of, if not the oldest, Mason in the State of Alabama and was 91 years old.”

Readers that week also learned that “Fire at Atmore destroyed a block of buildings in the business district.”

In the Oct. 19, 1911 edition of the paper, Whitcomb published the following announcement.

“We are again compelled to apologize to our subscribers for being late in going to press. We expected to be in running order this week, but were unable to secure a printer until too late to come out on time. We regret the delay very much, but it was unavoidable.

Whitcomb also reported that week that “Dr. W.W. Perdue of the Rockefeller Hook Worm Commission reports having treated over a thousand patients for hook worm in Conecuh County.”

Readers that week also learned that “6,000 bales of cotton were shipped from the port of Mobile to Liverpool. This makes a total of more than 20,000 bales shipped from this port within the past 15 days.

“The low price of cotton is having a depressing effect on business in this city. Nothing doing is the expression on every corner. Farmers who are able to do so are holding the staple for higher prices.”

Whitcomb closed out the week with a report that “Many of our citizens visited the Fair at Montgomery and were well pleased with the exhibits.”

In the Oct. 26, 1911 edition of The Record, Whitcomb reported that “The McCreary Drug Co. has just placed in their store a handsome new soda fountain, which is attracting considerable attention.

It was also reported that week that “Lee and Pridgen’s new building on Carey Street is nearing completion. It will be occupied by Chas. S. Lee & Co., smilax shippers.”

Under the headline, “NOTICE,” readers learned that “The Woman’s Missionary Society will give a Hallowe’en party at the Methodist parsonage Tues., Oct. 31. Children invited from 3 to 5. Adults 7 to 10. Admission 10 cents.”

As the month of October began to wind down, Conecuh residents were also feeling a change in the seasons.

Whitcomb commented that “The ice men have had their day, now for the coal man. If it’s not one, it’s the other.”

In news from the Finklea community, correspondent “Jason” reported that “Cotton picking is nearly a thing of the past in this section, and the cows have been turned in to most of the fields.”

Readers that week also learned that “Evergreen was well represented at the Montgomery Fair. Several hundred visited it during the week.”

Whitcomb closed out the month with the following plea.

“If you are indebted to The Record, don’t neglect to call and settle as soon as possible.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. Next month, I plan to take a look at the events of November 1911 in Conecuh County. Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s past yourself, take advantage of the Evergreen-Conecuh County Public Library’s excellent selection of old newspapers on microfilm and other resources. The library’s friendly and courteous staff will be more than happy to get you started.

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